Network functionality (nf) aware service provision based on service communication proxy (scp)

Abstract

There is provided a method for operating a first network node, which is performed by the first network node. The first network node is a first service communication proxy (SCP) node that is configured to operate as an SCP between a first network function (NF) node of a service consumer and a second NF node of a service producer in the network or the first network node is the second NF node. In response to receiving a first request transmitted towards the second NF node via the first SCP node, information indicative of a functionality supported by the first NF node is acquired. The first request is for the second NF node to provide a first service requested by the first NF node. The first network node operates based on the functionality supported by the first NF node.

1 . A method for operating a first network node performed by the first network node, the first network node being a first service communication proxy, SCP, node that is configured to operate as an SCP between a first network function, NF, node of a service consumer and a second NF node of a service producer in the network or the first network node being the second NF node, the method comprising:
 acquiring information indicative of a functionality supported by the first NF node in response to receiving a first request transmitted towards the second NF node via the first SCP node, the first request being for the second NF node to provide a first service requested by the first NF node; and   operating based on the functionality supported by the first NF node.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the information is acquired from a network repository function, NRF, node.   
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first request received at the first network node comprises one or more identifiers that allow the first NF node to be identified; and   acquiring the information from the NRF node comprises:
 acquiring the information from the NRF node using the one or more identifiers. 
   
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein:
 acquiring the information from the NRF node comprises:
 acquiring the information from a profile of the first NF node stored at the NRF node. 
   
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein:
 acquiring the information from the NRF node comprises:
 initiating transmission of a second request for the information towards the NRF node. 
   
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein:
 acquiring the information from the NRF node comprises:
 receiving the information from the NRF node. 
   
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the information is acquired from the first NF node.   
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein:
 the first request received at the first network node comprises the information; and   acquiring the information from the first NF node comprises:
 acquiring the information from the first request. 
   
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the information is stored in a memory; and   acquiring the information comprises:
 acquiring the information from the memory. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein:
 the information stored in the memory is from a third request transmitted towards the second NF node via the first SCP node, wherein the third request is for the second NF node to provide the first service requested by the first NF node and the third request is received at the first network node prior to the first request.   
     
     
         13 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A first network node, the first network node being a first service communication proxy, SCP, node that is configured to operate as an SCP between a first network function, NF, node of a service consumer and a second NF node of a service producer in the network or the first network node being the second NF node, the first network node comprising:
 processing circuitry; and   at least one memory for storing instructions which, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the first network node to:
 acquire information indicative of a functionality supported by the first NF node in response to receiving a first request transmitted towards the second NF node via the first SCP node, the first request being for the second NF node to provide a first service requested by the first NF node; and 
 operate based on the functionality supported by the first NF node. 
   
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A method for providing information to a first network node performed by a second network node, the second network node being a network repository function, NRF, node or a first network function, NF, node of a service consumer, the first network node being a first service communication proxy, SCP, node configured to operate as an SCP between the first NF node and a second NF node of a service producer in the network or the first network node being the second NF node, the method comprising:
 providing the first network node with access to information indicative of a functionality supported by the first NF node to allow the first network node to operate based on the functionality supported by the first NF node.   
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein:
 the NRF node provides the first network node with access to the information by:
 providing the first network node with access to a profile of the first NF node stored at the NRF node, wherein the profile comprises the information. 
   
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein:
 the NRF node provides the first network node with access to the information in response to receiving a second request for the information.   
     
     
         21 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein:
 the NRF node provides the first network node with access to the information by:
 initiating transmission of the information towards first network node. 
   
     
     
         22 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the method performed by the NRF node comprises:
 receiving a registration request from the first NF node, wherein the registration request comprises the information.   
     
     
         23 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein:
 the method performed by first NF node comprises:
 initiating transmission of a first request towards the second NF node via the first SCP node, wherein the first request is for the second NF node to provide a first service requested by the first NF node. 
   
     
     
         24 . The method as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein:
 the first NF node provides the first network node with access to the information by:
 the first request comprising one or both of the information and one or more identifiers that allow the first NF node to be identified, wherein the one or more identifiers are for use by the first network node to acquire the information from the NRF node. 
   
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The method as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein:
 the first NF node provides the first network node with access to the information by:
 prior to initiating transmission of the first request, initiating transmission of a third request towards the second NF node via the first SCP node, wherein the third request is for the second NF node to provide a first service requested by the first NF node and wherein the third request comprises the information. 
   
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A second network node, the second network node being a network repository function, NRF, node or a first network function, NF, node of a service consumer, the first network node being a first service communication proxy, SCP, node configured to operate as an SCP between the first NF node and a second NF node of a service producer in the network or the first network node being the second NF node, the second network node comprising:
 processing circuitry; and   at least one memory for storing instructions which, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the second network node to:
 provide the first network node with access to information indicative of a functionality supported by the first NF node to allow the first network node to operate based on the functionality supported by the first NF node. 
   
     
     
         31 .- 35 . (canceled)